Category Archives: children

Me time 

children, Exhausted, family, funny, kids, life, Me time, Mothers, Old parents, parent category

  

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Words parents should never use 

adolescence, children, Forbidden words, kids, life, Life lesson, Mothers, Old parents, Older parents, parent category, reflections, Teenage boy, Teenage sons, teenagers, tips, Warning

So turns out I am too old to use certain words – who would have thought?? But according to my teenage son – who by the way knows absolutely everything – there are just some words that old parents such as myself should never use because and I quote “they are young words and you are old”
These words include : Hectic, Cool, Dude and Dog – what the??
Apparently all these words and many others, do not mean the same thing to teenagers that they mean to us old or older folk!! 

It’s hard because on the outside I may not look like a teenager anymore but somewhere deep inside I still remember what it was like being one and at times I even feel like I did when I was one. Thank goodness I now have teenagers to remind me that my young days are long gone!! 

Winter colds 

Animal love, animals, Best friends, children, Colds, dog, dogs, Dogs are angels, Dogs are family, Exhausted, Ill, kids, life, parent category, pets, puppy, Winter bug, Winter cold, Winter time

  
The winter cold has hit us pretty hard at the moment, well the boys and I, Madelyn and Stephen seem to be fine. Harry who first brought the cold into our household is worst of all.

I snapped this photo only a few minutes ago of Harry sound asleep on the couch and Dexter siting on top of him – watching over his sick little brother. 

If I didn’t have to pick Madelyn up from rehearsal, that’s where I too would be fast asleep on the other couch. 

Careers expo and information session 

adolescence, Advice, Apprenticeships, Australia, Careers, Careers expo, character building, children, Fears, Information session, Journey of life, life, parent category, Secondary School, TAFE, Teenage boy, Teenage sons, teenagers, University, Workshop, Year 11, Year 12

Just got back from a careers expo and information night at my son’s college. The night was very informative but very very daunting!! My son is half way through year 10 and this expo and information night was in preparation of Year 11 and 12.
There were stalls from all the leading Universities and Tafe’s in Victoria, along with The Police force, VACC, The Army, William Angliss, Real Estate agents and others, too many to remember them all.

We collected so many books /career guides, pamphlets and flyers that there is just no way we can get through them all. 

School based apprenticeships looked quite good too and for a second my son seemed to consider a school based apprenticeship in the automotive industry but ultimately health science is were we are heading I think – exercise physiology , physiotherapy etc. 

To get into one of the better Universities for Health Science you need an Atar score of 60ish with a 30 in English which is achievable I think/hope. 

I spoke with the senior school curriculum coordinator about my son dropping Maths next year he struggles with it so much, and her suggestion was to continue basic maths in year 11 because many courses only need unit 1 & 2 Maths.

I walked away feeling a lot better and I think George did too, at least we have some idea were we are heading now. 
Best part of the evening was the year 11 curriculum coordinator who was George’s English teacher last semester (and who is just the loveliest man ever ) went over and sat with George and was talking to him about university and subjects and life and i really think he got through to him, he is such a cool man the boys all love him . I was so appreciative. The year 10 coordinator also called George into his office earlier today and had a quiet word to him as I had requested. But Mr Burt (the English teacher – year 11 curriculum coordinator did it all on his own accord. As I said he is just lovely.

I think we will both sleep better tonight, it is very hard being a teenager these days, things are just so different now!! There is more competition out there, more pressure and if you don’t have a clear idea of what you want to do – and let’s face it who really does at 16 – then it’s just so stressful and I’ve gotta say draining.

Lazy Saturday 

blessed, children, Hanging out, Happiness is, kids, Lazy day, parent category, Relationships, teenagers, Weekrnd

Today was such a lovely relaxing Saturday!! There was no alarm clock to wake up to, no need to get out of pyjamas actually!! It’s not often we get to just enjoy being at home, and although the children couldn’t tear themselves away from the video games and electronics which are such a big part of our lives these days, at least they were hanging out  together!!! 

   

The last time

blessed, children, family, feelings, Happiness is, kids, life, love, Melancholy, Mothers, parent category, reflections, The Last time

  
I was reminded of this beautiful poem today when I hugged and kissed my son at soccer. He had been to a sleepover at his friends since Friday night (first time he has stayed somewhere else for two nights – aside from the grandparents or school camp) and I had missed him so much. It occurred to me that this would probably be the last time that he would want me to hug and kiss him in public – he is growing up quickly, at his age, his brother would have been horrified at that sort of public display in front of his friends – that’s why I guess I’m feeling a little melancholy.

The last time 

From the moment you hold your baby in your arms, 

you will never be the same.

You might long for the person you were before, 

When you have freedom and time,

And nothing in particular to worry about.

You will know tiredness like you never knew it before,

And days will run into days that are exactly the same,

Full of feedings and burping,

Nappy changes and crying,

Whining and fighting,

Naps or a lack of naps,

It might seem like a never-ending cycle.
But don’t forget …

There is a last time for everything.

There will come a time when you will feed

your baby for the very last time.

They will fall asleep on you after a long day

And it will be the last time you ever hold your sleeping child.
One day you will carry them on your hip then set them down,

And never pick them up that way again.

You will scrub their hair in the bath one night

And from that day on they will want to bathe alone.

They will hold your hand to cross the road,

Then never reach for it again.

They will creep into your room at midnight for cuddles,

And it will be the last night you ever wake to this.
One afternoon you will sing “the wheels on the bus”

and do all the actions,

Then never sing them that song again.

They will kiss you goodbye at the school gate,

The next day they will ask to walk to the gate alone.

You will read a final bedtime story and wipe your last dirty face.

They will run to you with arms raised for the very last time.
The thing is, you won’t even know it’s the last time

Until there are no more times.

And even then, it will take you a while to realise.
So while you are living in these times,

remember there are only so many of them

and when they are gone, you will yearn for just one more day of them.

For one last time.
-Author Unknown-

Ransom 

Best friends, children, Happiness is, Hide and seek, holidays, kids, life, parent category, Primary school friends, Ransom, Relationships, Secondary School

  

This is the ransom note prepared by the boys (my Harry and his two friends ) for Madelyn his twin sister and her friend. I love that the boys were so excited about their mischief and it was really sweet to see the girls play along. 

I have had such a great day today pottering around the house while the kids have fun with their friends. There were 6 kids in total and at times the noise level was a bit overwhelming but it was so nice to just be able to observe them all interacting. These children have been friends all through primary school and although this year they have each gone their separate ways to different high schools they have kept in touch and I am happy to say are as close as ever.

Too much excitement 

blessed, children, dog, dogs, Exhausted, family, funny, Happiness is, holidays, kids, life, parent category, pets, Tough life

School holidays again and lucky me has the next two days off yay!! My twins have each invited a friend over to spend the night and then the next day, so the house is alive with noise and laughter, all the excitement has been a bit too much for my pets though, both Dexter and DT are curled up on the bed either side of me sound asleep!! It’s a tough life for some.lol 

  

Getting the message through. Not!!

challenge, children, Fears, feelings, kids, life, Life lesson, parent category, Parent/teacher interview, reflections, Reports, Teenage boy, Teenage sons, teenagers

Parent /teacher interviews again today, feels like it was only last month when I last caught up with the kids teachers and blogged about it. 

Fortunately Harry’s report and teachers feedback was excellent. Unfortunately George’s report was not so great, but the feedback from the teachers was definitely not as disheartening as I was expecting. Madelyn’s report and parent/teacher interviews are yet to come. 
I have really struggled with getting the message of how important school really is, across to George. I don’t know how else to say it or what else to do to get through to him.  

I know he is disappointed with his grades as much as we are, and at the moment he is really committed to trying harder to improve his marks but I can’t help thinking that this newly found commitment on his part is not going to last, and that worries me so much.

Tonight I will take solace in the fact that after speaking with the teachers it doesn’t look as bad for him as what the report suggested.